Travel Top 5: The world's best airports

Jack Guez, Getty Images05.18.2010

There is an award for everything and airports are no exception. Every year, Skytrax hands out trophies to the world's best airports based on the results of 9.8 million questionnaires completed by airline passengers around the world. Asia must be doing something right, because they nabbed four out of the top 5. Don't even ask where North American airports rank.

Jack Guez
/ Getty Images

5. Kuala Lumpur International Airport

If you've got a long layover, you don't have to sleep on plastic chairs in the departures area in Kuala Lumpur. The airport has a transit hotel where you can book a room for 6-hour blocks of time. Even if you don't check in, you can take advantage of many of the hotel's amenties like showers, a gym and a steam bath or sauna. There are other services at the airport that will help you rid yourself of stress as you travel such as a reflexology and massage centre and gardens where you can relax.

Munich's airport was the only European airport to crack the top 5. It's handles a huge flow of passengers with legendary German efficiency. It's certainly a great place if you're flying with kids. They have a playground, puppet shows, a kids' festival and there are even tours of the airport's fire department. For grownups, there is a tour of the customs office that lets you get a peek behind the scenes. Of course, you could try to smuggle some contraband into the airport and you'll get a tour of the customs office for free and probably a jail cell.

Fancy a round of golf before you fly? Hong Kong International has a 9-hole course where you can hit a few balls. If you're no good at real sports, there is also an area in the airport with a ton of sports simulators to play. But what Hong Kong is really famous for is its movies and for shopping. The airport has both. There are a plethora of shops that will let you part with your money and a 3D movie theatre with one of the largest screens in Asia as well as a theme-park dedicated to movie-making.

One of the worst things about airports is waiting, but in Seoul Incheon there are plenty of things to do. There's the Korea Cultural Experience which features a museum, an art gallery and even an area where you can try your hand at making traditional Korean crafts. If you're sick of flourescent lighting, then you can relax in one of the airport's many gardens or escape to their spa and sauna. There's so much going on that you might not want to ever board that flight home.

How many airports have their own butterfly garden? Changi does. That's just one of the many diversions available to passengers at this efficient and popular airport. If you are only flying through Singapore on a connecting flight, but have some time to spare then you can even take advantage of a free tour of the city offered by Changi.

Travel Top 5: The world's best airports

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